Blogger quizzed under Sedition Act
By Himanshu Bhatt, The Sun
GEORGETOWN: Police investigations into a controversial report of a supposed Christian conspiracy in Malaysia goes a notch higher with the questioning of a key figure in the affair yesterday.
According to sources, Zakhir Mohammed, the author of the blog – bigdot.com, which first suggested the existence of the alleged conspirac, was directed to show up for questioning here following a slew of reports against him for his blog entry.
Zakhir was taken from his hotel here to the George Town police district headquarters at Patani Road at 4.15p.m.
It is learnt that he was questioned under the Sedition Act for his entry “Making Christianity the official religion?” on May 6.
Zakhir’s posting had reported a hearsay account of a plan to make Christianity the official religion of Malaysia and for a Christian to be prime minister.
The allegation was then featured on the front page of Malay daily Utusan Malaysia on May 7. Another blog, Marahku, also carried the allegation but the posting has since been removed.
The allegation had implicated local pastors and DAP’s Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi who had attended a dinner in conjunction with the Unashamedly Ethical Marketplace Conference here on May 5 and 6.
The Conference was organized by the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship, Global Day of Prayer, Marketplace Penang and Penang Pastors’ Fellowship.
In a joint statement on May 8, the three groups refuted the claims as “unfounded and totally untrue”, stressing that the conference was to discuss and address the issue of bribery and corruption, and Christians’ contribution in addressing such issues.
They added that they felt ‘perturbed” by claims in the blog that a special morning convention and another special meeting in the evening at Khaw Sim Bee Road here were to ponder over having a Christian as the Prime Minister of Malaysia.
On May 13, Penang DAP member Mohd Razali Abdul Rahman, who was present at the event, had lodged a police report at the George Town headquarters on the matter.
In a blog posting the same day, Zakhir claimed Razali had asked for investigation on the issue.
“Razali claimed (sic) was very disappointed on all who have been reported on the issue and he no longer can tolerate the lies of DAP leaders on the issue. According to him, they met and they did vow. He claimed to be present at the event purpotedly at a hotel on Macalister Road,” the blog entry said.
Ooi, a Buddhist, has since expressed concern that Razali, who has a relative working in the Special Branch may have been forced to make the police report.
